“External factors had the most significant impact on the growth of independence movements.” Discuss with reference to two independence movements.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the role of external factors in fostering the growth of two independence movements. The two independence movements may or may not be drawn from the same region and they may or may not have been contemporaneous. Candidates may offer equal coverage of the two independence movements, or they may emphasize their discussion of one of them; however, both movements will be a feature of the response. A comparative approach may or may not be used. External factors may include the role of foreign ideologies or foreign intervention, for example the role of the US in Cuba's independence, or the influence of Communism in Vietnamese independence. While other relevant factors, for example internal factors such as leadership, ideology, social, political and economic problems may be referred to, the bulk of the response will remain on the issue raised in the question. Candidates may agree, partly agree or disagree with the statement.

The question required candidates to offer a considered and balanced review of the role of external factors in fostering the growth of two independence movements. Several responses were seen to this question although candidates were often unclear as to the impact of “external factors”. Often, the imperial power was seen, inaccurately, as an “external factor”. Better responses did refer to events such as the two world wars or the impact of ideologies such as communism that impacted the growth of independence movements.